Kelburne and Watsonians win U15 Indoor Cup Finals

Congratulations to Kelburne boys and Watsonians girls on winning this season’s U15 National Indoor Cups. They triumphed on a thrilling day’s indoor hockey at The Peak in Stirling.

These finals brought the curtain down on a hugely successful and enjoyable youth indoor season.

U15 Boys Indoor Finals

The six teams who qualified for the boys’ finals played in two groups of three teams, followed by play-offs and a final.

An entertaining match between Clydesdale and Perthshire in Pool A set the tone for the day. Two penalty corner goals from Gideon Lidstone gave the Perth boys a 2-0 lead after only six minutes. However, Clydesdale hit back through Myles Macaulay and Nicholas Richmond to make the final score 2-2.

Perthshire’s next match was also a 2-2 draw against Watsonians. Murray Cameron gave the yellows the lead before Charlie MacPherson equalised for the Edinburgh boys. Gideon Lidstone’s penalty corner seemed to have won the game for Perthshire before Matthew Leiper’s last-minute corner conversion tied the scores.

Leiper scored again after only 3 minutes of the final Pool A match, before a great finish from Noah Gray gave Watsonians a 2-0 lead against Clydesdale. The Glaswegians’ captain Myles Macaulay got one back with 5 minutes left to set up a grandstand finish. A Clydesdale equaliser would have left all three teams tied on points, goal difference and goals scored – and possibly even field goals (the final ranking criteria) – but the maroons’ defence held firm to send them to the final.

In Pool B, Stewart’s Melville’s Greg Wardlaw gave them the lead against Kelburne. However, Tom Hunt equalised before a late winner from Cole Norrie gave the Paisley boys a 2-1 win.

Granite City Wanderers played some superb hockey against Kelburne but just couldn’t find a way past goalie Ally Glen. And with just one minute to go, Daniel Docherty put Kelburne in the final with a well-taken goal.

In the last pool match, Stewart’s Melville stormed into a 3-goal lead through Greg Wardlaw (2) and Will Kelly, before Alex Thomson got one back for Granite City. However, Lucas Heiton tied up the win before a late goal from Fin Strachan for the Aberdonians made it 4-2.

In the play-offs, Clydesdale claimed 5th place overall with a 4-1 win against Granite City. Myles Macaulay (2), Tristan Robin and Cameron Mitchell scored, with Ryan Dunbar getting the consolation.

A hattrick from the impressive Greg Wardlaw earned Stewart’s Melville third place in a 3-2 win against Perthshire. Two penalty corners from Perthshire’s Gideon Lidstone weren’t quite enough.

The final was a tense, tight match with two very well drilled defences and both goalies making a series of excellent saves. Goalies, Ally Glen (Kelburne) and Finn Milne (Watsonians) both had an excellent tournament. Just when it looked like it was going to penalties, Kelburne won a penalty corner right on the buzzer. The initial shot was saved, but Adam Jack was first to react to knock the rebound over the line and earn Kelburne the win.

Victoria Truesdale, one of Scotland’s top technical officials, presented the trophy and medals to the Kelburne boys. Well done to their coaches, William Hunt and Emma Reid.

Kelburne – U15 Boys Indoor Champions 2023                                          (Photo: David McCarthy)

U15 Girls Indoor Finals

The four teams who qualified for the Girls’ finals played in a round-robin tournament with the top two qualifying for the final.

Watsonians scored four goals in the last five minutes to beat a hard-working Glenalmond team. Jenna Park, Lucy Coull, Keara Milligan and Tabitha Peck scored the goals.

Edinburgh HC (EHC) got their day off to a good start with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Granite City Wanderers (GCW) thanks to a Freya Paterson goal. The excellent defensive structures from both teams were a credit to their coaches, Janice Windsor and Sandy Keith respectively.

However, GCW got their first points on the board with a 2-0 win against Glenalmond. Bella Kerr and captain Alex Walterson scored the goals.

Edinburgh HC and Watsonians then fought out a 1-1 draw. Gabriella Fontenla put the maroons ahead before Evie Colhoun equalised for EHC with four minutes to go.

Watsonians sealed their place in the final with an impressive 4-1 win against Granite City. As in their first game, there were four different scorers: Jenna Park, Gabriella Fontenla, Lucy Coull and Gabriella Miller. Alex Walterson scored the consolation for GCW.

A goal from Evie Morris was enough to give EHC a 1-0 win against Glenalmond and set up an all-Edinburgh final. The Glenalmond girls, coached by Will Murray, played superbly but just couldn’t find a way past goalie Halszka Musialowicz.

In the final, Watsonians flew out of the traps, going 3-0 up in the first eight minutes. Lucy Coull and Tabitha Peck (2) did the damage, before Edinburgh HC hit back through Julia Muyo De Bonrostro and Amelia Leitch. However, a penalty corner from Peck on the final buzzer wrapped up her hattrick and the title for Watsonians. Congratulations to coach Aiden Wren and his talented squad.

Anne Wotherspoon, Chair of the Officials’ Appointments Panel, presented the medals and trophy.

The day had been a huge success thanks to hard work from the officials and high-quality umpiring.

Watsonians – U15 Girls Indoor Champions 2023                                        (Photo: David McCarthy)

 

 

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